Empire Comfort Sys.
Empire Comfort Systems: Nine Decades of American Heating Excellence
Few names in the home heating industry carry the weight of nearly a century of American craftsmanship. Empire Comfort Systems was founded in 1932 in Belleville, Illinois — originally as Empire Stove Company — with a focus on sheet metal heaters designed to take advantage of the growing availability of natural gas. In the decades since, the company has grown into one of the most trusted privately held heating manufacturers in North America, all while keeping its roots firmly planted in the heartland.
What sets Empire apart is a relentless commitment to manufacturing quality at its Belleville, Illinois facilities. The company assembles its core heater lines domestically and gives strong preference to North American suppliers, a philosophy that keeps quality control tight and supports local economies. This dedication to American-made production is not just a marketing position — it is woven into the company's engineering culture and reflected in the durability of every product that leaves the factory floor.
Over the decades, Empire has demonstrated a knack for anticipating what homeowners need most. The company was an early pioneer in vent-free heating technology, introducing Oxygen Depletion Sensor (ODS) systems that automatically shut off a heater if indoor oxygen levels drop — a genuine safety advancement for the industry. Empire was also among the first manufacturers to offer a gas-fired heater with 80% efficiency, and later pushed that benchmark even further with a vented gas fireplace rated at 90% efficiency.
Today, Empire operates a rich family of brands under one roof. Empire Heating Systems remains the flagship, delivering portable and zone heaters ranging from compact vent-free blue flame and infrared radiant models to larger direct-vent and B-vent wall furnaces and console heaters. Whether you need supplemental warmth for a single room or a robust solution for a larger living space, there is an Empire heater engineered for the task. White Mountain Hearth and American Hearth round out the hearth product offerings with gas fireplaces, cast iron stoves, and stunningly realistic log sets that blend the beauty of an open flame with modern efficiency technology. Broilmaster Premium Gas Grills, acquired by Empire in 2002, extend the brand family into the outdoor cooking world.
For homeowners, contractors, and heating professionals alike, Empire Comfort Systems represents a straightforward value proposition: well-engineered, American-built heating products backed by a company that has navigated economic cycles, changing consumer demands, and evolving efficiency standards — and has been doing so since Franklin D. Roosevelt's first term. That kind of longevity speaks for itself.